My Lovely Morning Horror Ride!

What the hell is going on with the L train in Williamsburg Brooklyn?!

Being one of the few people left who was actually BORN and RAISED in Williamsburg.. I do not fall into the category as just another hipster living in Brooklyn ready to claim the borough as my "home sweet home" because, Williamsburg, is actually a big piece of my personality and more than just a home to me.

Since I have been living here for 22 years now, I have seen a LOT of new changes in the neighborhood. Especially, in just the past couple of years. Some good, some bad, but the biggest change is my morning commute to Manhattan. Normally, a ride to downtown Manhattan takes me ehh.... about 20 minutes... to midtown manhattan? about 35 minutes. Sounds great, right?! Well not lately!

Every morning, when I have to catch the L train to get to my job at 30 Rockefeller plaza I am joined by a crowded platform of aggravated commuters. It's such a great way to start my morning :-\

My normal 35 minute commute to get from Williamsburg Brooklyn to 50th street Rockfeller Plaza has just jumped from the usual 35 minutes to AN HOUR AND A HALF.

Wake up at 6:30? CHECK! Be on the platform by 7:30 CHECK! Finally get into a train that has enough room (just the size of a Manhattan kitchen cabinet)for me to squeeze my 5'3 body into...at 8AM CHECK! Since when does it take half-an-hour just to wait for a train in New York?! So, I decided to do some research... New York Magazine has covered a few stories on the L train and the crowded commute is nothing new to them, and according to The New York Times, ridership has increased drastically because of a sudden BOOM in population. According to the paper, population has increased by 20 percent since 2000, which doubles this this city's average.

Well, isn't that nice to have an explanation. But now, what the hell is going to be done about it?! Today, the city is deciding what they are going to do about traffic, and if this new toll fare takes place, Bloomberg has promised to transfer this new source of revenue into the MTA pool, thinking it will be conducive to commuters. If this takes effect, do you really think it will make an impact?

Call me unfriendly but honestly I'm tired of becoming 'extremely close' with fellow neighbors at 7:30 in the morning. I don't necessarily need to know you already had your daily coffee by smelling it on your breath... maybe some other time though, Thanks!